Vehicle-wheel.



No. 648,395. Patented May I, |900. a. K. vwnL. VEHICLE WHEEL.

(Application led Sept. 2, 1899.)

(No Molel.)

3 Sheds-Sheet 2.

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o., wlmoumo., wnsnmarom Patented May l, i900. G. K. DAVQL. VEHICLE WHEEL.

(Application filed Sept. 2, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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NITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

GEORGE ir. DAvoL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIs.

VEHICLE-Vi/HEEL.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,395, dated May 1, 1900. Application 51611 September 2, 1899. VSerial No. 729,316. (No modeld T0 @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE K. DAvOL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State'of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vehicle-Wheels, (Case No.`

1,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,vforming a part of this specication.

My invention relates to an improvement in vehicle-wheels; and its object is to provide a spring-wheel for vehicles which shall beY strong, afford great tractive power, and which shall have a universally-flexible tread.

More particularly, the objects of my invention are, first, to construct a spring-wheel capable of sustaining heavy loads and one which will at the saine time largely conform to the irregularities of the surfaces traveled over and relieve the vehicle and its load from jolting; second, to provide a wheel which shall when used for self-propelling vehicles be capable of exerting the required tractive force; third, to provide a wheel the tread of which shall be capable of resilently yielding in a lateral direction, while at the same time possessing therequired lateral stiffness, and fourth, to provide a Wheel of the characteristics set forth which shall at the same time operate with verylittle noise.

The` foregoing and other objects accomplished by the vehicle-Wheel of my invention will be understood from the following description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a portion of this application.

Figure l is a side view of asegment of the wheel of my invention, partlyin section and showing the surface which the wheel is adapted to travel over. Fig. 2 is a section upon line :no: of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a view of the tread of the wheel looking toward thecenter. Fig. 4 is a View of the shoes constituting the outer rim of the Wheel looking from the center of the Wheel outward. Fig. 5 is a view in detail of one of the spring-feet. Fig. 6 is a view of part shown in Fig. 5, but at right angle thereto. Fig. 7 shows in detail three of the springs, together with one of the springfeet and one of the shoes constituting the outer tread of the wheel. Fig. 8 shows the arrangement of thesprings laterally when -the modification shown in Fig. 7 is employed. Fig. 9 shows a modification of the means for connecting the spring-feet. Fig. 10 is a section of line y y of Fig. 9. y

Similar letters of reference are employed throughout the different views to indicate similar parts. i

Briefly stated, the wheel consists of an in= ner rigid4 structure, around which are ar'- ranged a number'of radially-disposed springs d, which bear. through suitable spring-feet c on an outeriiexible tread, which tread is composed of a series of separate shoes f, lil-exi bly connected' to each other by means of ,links g.

' `The inner structure ct of the wheel is pref erably made Vof cast-'steel and may be constructedin' any suitable and well-known Way which will alord the necessary Width of face to permit the attachment of the springs, which are interposed between the said inner structure and the outer flexible tread of the wheel. In the` rim Z7 of this inner structure I provide holes for the passingof the bolts .c c c, which hold against the outer face of the interior rim the circular spirally-grooved lugs or blocksc'. Between these spirally-grooved lugs or blocks and the rims are the washers c2, having `a fiat surface against whichthe lug c' presses and a concave surface conforming to the convexity of the riin. The lug c is constructed to receive in a spiralgroove provided thereon the end of the spiral 4spring (Z and is somewhat larger than the interior di ameter of the spiral spring, so that when the spring is screwed upon the block or lug it grips it firmly and cannot be detached readily, because any attempt to unsorew it willY with spirally-grooved blocks or lugs of a number sufficient to accommodate the springs, and to these blocks or lugs c are attached the springs in a manner similar to that described IOO and spring-feet. lIt would be practicable to with reference to the attachment of the springs to the inner blocks or lugs c.

The'spring-feet e I preferably construct of the bridge form shown in Fig. 5, with out-V wardly-extending bearings e2 e2, having the radial teeth e3. (Shown most clearly in Figs. l and 6.) I prefer to allow two of the said spring-feet to have bearing on one shoe, thus having twice as many spring-feet as there arev shoes. This permits the use of stronger shoes and connections and simplifies construction?" while the wheelV will run practically as .evenly as if twice the number of shoeswereused, asj

the evenness of running does not depend so much on the number of shoes used as it does on the number of transverse rows of springs allow more than two spring-,feet to bearsonl the same shoe in certain designsor touserone shoe foreach spring-foot; but I' prefer to have twospring-feet bear on each shoe. The shoes f are coupled together by the links g to formthe outer liexible tread of. thev wheel. As the wheel is preferably construct'-V ed, th-is outer tread, formed by the shoesconnected together by the links g, is of such length `that lwhenl thewheel is lifted .freel ward Athrust iscounteracted by the tension .which it naturally-produces in the endless lunderthepaction of the springs av circular.`

from the groundrthe'springs shall all ,be un? der certain compression and all exerting an outward thrust against the shoes This outchain-offshoesand links constituting the louterieirible tread... When the wheel is free from the ground, this outer tread assumes` shape. lW'hen the'wheel is allowedtolrest upongthe ground and a loadput upon it, this normally-circular shapeof the o-utertrea'd isf distorted bythe compression of the springs bearing the weight of the'wheel and load. If-V thelwheel bev resting upon a flat surface, the

lower portionof the treadwill be flattened f to a greater or less extent, accordingtot-he load putuponit. Now itl will be seen' that when such a flattening occurs all the springs other than those bearing'the weight. of the wheel-and the load will be relieved to some extentof their normal compression.' By

normal compression I mean thatdegree ofy compression whichy all the springs have when the wheel is" lifted free from the ground.

Therefore I preferably construct the wheel so thatthis normal compression of the springsl will be of such degree that whenthe heaviest load is put upon the wheel'and the greatest Iiattenin g of the lower part of the'outer tread occurs those springsl not bearing theoweight of-wheel and load will not be extended to their fullextent, butwill still have imposed upon them by the outer tread ,a slight degree of compression. 1

. Theouter treadof the wheel is preferably constructedto be always undersome degree of'tension, which is provided for by giving a proper degree of normal compression to the Springs; Y

When' the wheel is used for tractivepur'- poses and a turning movement is applied to the center of the wheel against a resistance vapplied at the outer tread, the springs will naturally give to a certain extent. This resistance applied to the outer tread where it is in contactwiththe ground is transmitted to all the springs throughout Vthe periphery of the wheel bythe said tread.. Thus all the springs throughout the entire periphery of th'evwheel taking this torsionalstraimfthe wheel will be found to possess considerable stiffness against such strains. fv

Thecenter ofthe flexible connections of the shoes is brought very near'the actual treadof the Wheel bythe construction shown,while' atvthe same time the necessary strengthis afforded. I accomplish this by`havinfgilthe `shoes, f, which I ypreferably makey ofcast-- steel, providedwith hooks f', withwhichthe' The 'links'aremade of such size-that when engagediwith` the hooks f,-the`re is acertain degree oflplay links areY adapted toengage.

orclearan ce allowed,.which permits aY certain .degree of freedom-of motion in all directions.

Inother words, thes'elinks g, engaging with thehooks f', forml universally-ii'exiblev een? nections. Thus each shoe has a vcertain degrec of movement independently of adjacent shoes.

A certain clearance-is -allowed between each shoe, Vwhich clearance is sufficient [to permit' 'any link vbeing removed by-simply [drawing the two shoes it connects-together,

whenthe link maybe slipped off or onithe 'hooksff To prevent, however, the links IOO slipping o if accidentally through any cause vided. These stops,`which may be of any form desired, are so placed on 'the shoesfthat they forman obstruction, which must -be removed'before the links g can bel slipped o `V4the hooks, It has been found 'thatthe -links gV wearin use, .which-results in va gradual lengthening of-Lthe tread; The ease withwhich these linksmay be removed and replaced byothers, however, permits ready .-means--of adjusting the -length of the tread and of compensating forl such wear.

Y roll or'rock on the flat surfaces on the shoes.

To prevent the spring-feetfgsliding 0E the shoes lor being displaced from their* proper bearing,I provide teeth es, formed on onel side of the cylindrical surface of the springfeet, and teeth f 3 on one side of the flat surwhichmight act'to *bring any two adjacent 'shoes' together, thestops or screws f2 are pro- IIO dieser', s

faces of the shoes These teeth mesh with each other and prevent any displacement of the spring-feet from their proper bearing on the shoes. These teeth are designed simply to prevent such displacement or sliding of the spring-feet and not to take any of the thrust which the spring-feet exert on the shoes, although they may be made to extend entirely across the entire bearing-surface between the spring-feet and the shoes and take the said thrust if desired. I prefer to form these teeth on one edge of the bearing-surfaces on the spring-feet and shoes, as'shown, leaving the bearing-*surface proper on the shoes smooth plane surfaces and on the spring-feet smooth cylindrical surfaces. Although I much prefer this form of bearing between spring-feet and shoes, it is not essential, as another form of bearing, as shown in Fig. 9, may be employed. In this form the outer extensions of the springfeet have cylindrical bearing-surfaces, which tit into and rest in correspondingly-shaped recesses h, formed in the shoes. In this case a sliding action takes place between the spring-feet and the shoes in ythesebearings and a heavy lubricant is preferably used. The shoes, furthermore, are rconstructed to present to each other sides which are so curved that they preserve their normal separation from each other in all relative positions which they can assume, and this prevents the pinching of stones and other small objects between the shoes of the wheel in the course of its operation. p

The constant compression of the springs, to a greater or less extent counteracted by the constant tension in the outer tread, will of to guard against the dropping olf of the shoes in case of a break in the links g that this means of attachment is provided, but also to prevent the spring-feet being pulled away from the shoes when the wheel is subjected be sufficiently. great might be pulled off their bearing on the shoes were'some such means of attachment not provided.

Upon each spring-foot instead of the links lg of the form shown in the other figures I may use the modification illustrated in Figs. 9 and l0, in which the shoes are coupled together `by means of links g, provided with holes through which extend the couplingpins g'. To increase the lateral stiifness of the wheel, a greater number of springs than two may -be arranged in a transverse row on the same spring-foot. I have shown this modification in Figs. 7 and S. When two springs in transverse rows are used, I preferably mount them, as shown in Fig. 2, with alternate wide and narrow spacing of the springs upon their spring-feet, in order to get more of the springs into a given space. When Y ber of springs in each row the capacity of the wheel may be increased to almost any de- IOO course normally keep tne snoes 1n pia'ceon the wheel. If, however, a break should occur in any of the links g, the shoes throughout the peripheryof the wheel would drop off' 4unless some additional means was provided to keep them in place. This I provide for as e4 is formed, which when the spring-foot is in place comes under orinside of the lip ,forrned on the shoe f. Similarly placed on the oppo site side of the spring-foot is a screw r., having an inwardly-projecting end, which when the spring-foot is in place projects under-orinside of the lip on its side of the shoe. Thus it will be seen that the shoe cannot be removed from the spring-foot, as the lug e4 on one side and the screw 7.; on the other side will engage with the lips t', formed on the shoe.

In order to remove the shoe, it is necessary to withdraw the screw 7c from one side, when the shoe may be slipped off. It is not only sired amount.

It is desirable to get as great a number ofwill run.

As a considerable length of tread is always in contact'with the ground, it is necessaryin order to facilitate the turning of bends that the tread and springs be capable of yielding in a lateral direction, which will enable theV shoes to be laid upon the ground in a laterally-curved line corresponding to the direction taken by the wheel. This lateral yielding is, however, limited by the lateral stiffness of the springs, but is sufficient to enable the wheel to readily travel in a curved direction or turn bends with ease.

The increase of width of the tread is unobjectionable, because it is made of independently-moving sections, and the increased width of these sections or shoes does not interpose any additionalV resistance to turning bends, as each shoe falls on the ground parallel to the axis of the Wheel and independent of adjacent shoes, and in turning any ordinary bend will maintain the same position on the ground until the weight is taken olf it. The construction of the tread is such IIO i 'thateacli shoe adapts itself `to the irregulari-L 4r y l, j j

tiesof .the ground` and has at least thre i tions I use is designed to allow and the na-A glo points of bearing upon the ground.

The form of connections used in this Wheel to join the-shoes forming the tread I have de-v scribed herein vas being universally fleible.

I will point out more expressly the range and nature of eXure which the forni of connecture-of the independentmovements which are so permitted to theshoes. lAn ordinary universal joint, as used tol transmit yrotary mtion between'two turning spindles or shafts,

ypermits acertain range of independent dej so con nected, but allows no independent turningor torsional movement.

' Aof my wheel is designed not only to allow such zof fiexures'in all directions, but alsois designed l Amovements, thus .permitting tfhe'center lines iiection or variation of position to the shafts The form of connection I usejto join the shoes in the tread of to be flexible as'regardsv turning or twisting of'any't'wo adjacent shoes to lie in-dierent planes. Thus the independent"`movements permitted' each separate shoe in the tr'eadot" y,my wheel are the same as thoseV .a'lllow'ed it'V the shoes were connected by perfectlyflexi-` vble' cords, which would not only permit delflection in all directions,l butl independent .turning,t wisting, ortorsionalmovements as Vwellto thejshoesso connected.

In the form A of connections shown in Figs l, 2, 3, 4, and

v f twisting Viiexibilityisallowed for by provid 7 a large range of torsional' or twisting movement or flexibility is allowed, and in the modifiedV form shown in Figs. 9 and 1 0 this same ing the clearance around the links g and in the holes in thelinks g. The object of allowin g this torsional or twisting flexibility in the connections istopermit one shoe vresting on' the ground to be tipped up by the unevenness of the ground, while its adjacent shoe,

lalso restingon the ground, may lie in a'dif'- ferent plane, thus allowing to each shoe the requisite independence of movement to permit it to conform to the irregularities of vthe road-surface. wheel tov permit it to turn bends with ease,

Y' While having a wide tread. It will bel seen that owing to the perfectly-flexible nature-ofV the single line of connections joining the shoes if the wheel be traveling in a circular direc` tion the shoes in contact with the ground will lie with their center lines radiating from thev centerof the arctraveled by the wheeh In other words, the shoes bearing on the ground are not constrained to occupy parallel posif tions, but the flexible nature of the single line `of connections andof the springs bear-v ing on the shoes allows each shoe to adapt its position to the direction taken bythe wheel when the shoe cornes in contact with .the ground. s

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the various departures from the specific structure herein shown as embodying my invention maybe made without failing I have made provision in this" to realize the spirit of'j invention. Ido= not wish to be limited, therefore, to the precse structure shown' and-described; but,

Having thusv described my inventionwith lreference to an vembodiment which I have found tovbe satisfactory and successful, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters ]Eatent,;is`

1. A wheel having an endless flexible outer tread comprising a plurality of separate shoes orbearing-blocks adapted to bear directly upon the surface traveled over, sai'd shoes beling joined to each other by connections con- Istructed to permit `free Iiexurein all directions, an inner structure and a plurality of springs separate. from said shoes interposed between said shoes and the said inner struc- 2. A wheel having an outer treadcoinprisin gga plurality of separate shoes or bearingblcks adapted -to bearindepende'ntly and l directly upon the su rface. traveled over and iexibly connected or linked together by connections constructed" to permit free flexure kin all directions, to lform anendless chain or -belt of constant.lengtlnfaninner structure anda pluralityof springsV interposed' between the saidshoes and the said inner'structure.

3.A wheel having an outer tread, Acom prising'v a plurality of separate shoes orbearingblocks;y adapted to bear independently and directlyupon' the surface 'travelediover and Vflexibly connected or linkedV togetherby'c'on- 'nections arranged in circumferential aline- ,mentwith the shoes or .bearing-blocks' and constructed to permit free iiexurein all dilrection`s, said connected shoes or bearingblo'cks forming an endless chain or belt of constantlength'; an inner structure and a vpluralityof springs interposed between the said shoes and said inner structure; i Y

4. Av spring-wheel having an outer flexible .tread comprising'a plurality of separate shoes or bearing blocks adapted to bear directly upon the surface traveled over, a single line `or series oflinks or'equivalent connecting means which fiexibly join'the lsaid shoes or bearing-blocks Vone to another in suchmanner as to afford free fleXure in all directions IOO IIO

and to form together with the said shoes an endless chain or belt of constant length, an inner structure'and a plurality'of springs separate fromsaidvshoes and interposed between said shoesand said inner structure.

5.M A spring-wheel comprising aplurality of springs arranged around an inner structure and exerting an outward pressure or tension against an endless chain of constant length which forms lthe tread of the wheel, said end- -less chain surrounding the outer extremities of said springs and embracing a series of separate bearing-blocks or shoes adapted to bear directlyl upon the surface traveled over and flexibly connected together bya single series of links or other connections arranged in circumferential alinement with the shoes and which permit free flexure in all directions.

IZO

6. A wheel having an outer-tread comprising a plurality of shoes or bearing-blocks adapted to bear independently and directly upon the surface traveled over and flexibly connected or linked together to form an endless chain or belt of constant length by a single line of links or flexible connections uniting the said blocks or shoes, which connections freely permit flexure in all directions, an inner structure, a plurality of springs interposed between the said shoes and the said inner structure, feet, one or more for each shoe attached to said springs and bearing upon said shoes, substantially as described.

7. A spring-wheel having an outer flexible tread comprising a number of separate shoes or bearing-blocks adapted to bear directly upon the surface traveled over and joined one to another to form anendless chain or belt of constant length by a single line or series of connecting-links or other flexible connections allowing fiexure in all directions, an inner structure, a plurality of springs separate from said tread and interposed between said shoes and said inner structure, and feet one or more for each shoe, attached to said springs and bearing upon said shoes, substantially as described. A

8. A spring-wheel comprisingapluralityof springs arranged around an inner structure and exerting an outward pressure or tension against an endless chain of constant length` which forms the tread of the wheel, said endless chain surrounding the outer extremities of said springs and being composed of a series of separate bearing blocks or shoes flexibly connected together by a single line or series of links or other lexible connections which freely permit flexure in all directions, and feet, one or more for each shoe, attached to said springs and bearing upon said shoes, substantially as described.

9. In a wheel the combination with an outer flexible tread of an inner structure, a plurality of springs between said outer tread and said inner structure, spring-feet attached to the outer extremities of said springs and having a rocking engagement with said tread,

substantially as described.

10. In a wheel the combination with an outer tread comprising a plurality of shoes flexibly connected together, of an inner structure, a plurality of springs between said tread and said inner structure, spring-feet attached to the outer extremities of said springs and bearing upon said shoes, the contact between the said spring-feet and the said shoes being a rocking, or oscillating bearing, and teeth formed in said shoes and said spring-feet adapted to mesh with each other and to allow a rocking movement, substantially as described.

11. In a wheel the combination with an outer flexible tread of an inner structure, and a plurality of helical springs interposed between said tread and said inner structure, a plurality of spirally-grooved lugs or blocks secured to the said inner structure and adapted to en-t.V gage said springs, andspring-feet adapted to engage the outer extremities of said springs and to bear upon said outer flexible tread, substantially as described.

12. In a Wheel the combination with an outer flexible tread of an inner structure, a plurality of helical springs interposed between said treadV and said inner structure, spring-feet adapted to bear on said outer flexible tread, and spirally-grooved lugs provided on said spring-feet and adapted to engage with the outer extremities of said springs, substantially as described.

13. In awheel the combination with an outer flexible tread of an inner structure, helical springs interposed between said tread and said inner structure, spring-feet bearing upon said outer tread, and spirally-grooved lugs upon said inner structure and upon said spring-feet and adapted to hold securely the ends of the said springs, substantially as described. A

14. In a wheel'havin g an outer flexible tread, the combination with a plurality of separate shoes provided with hooks of links adapted to engage said hooks and to unite said shoes into a continuous flexible tread for said wheel, substantially as described.

15. In awheel having an outer flexible tread, the combination with a plurality of separate shoes or bearing-blocks provided with suitable hooks, of a plurality of separate links adapted to engage with the said hooks and to connect the said shoes one to another to form a continuous flexible tread and means for retaining said links in engagement without preventing the flexure of said tread, substantially as described.

16. In a wheel the combination with a rigid inner structure of a universally-flexible outer structure and an outer rim comprising separate shoes linked together to form a continuous tread, substantially as described.

17. In a wheel the combination with a rigid inner structure of a flexible tread and helical springs in transverse rows interposed between said inner structure and said flexible tread, the springs in adjacent rows being in different planes parallel to the plane of the wheel, substantially as described.

18. In a wheel the combination with a rigid inner structure of an outer flexible tread, and springs interposed between said structure and said tread, said tread being composed of separate shoes having sides curved so that they preserve their normal separation from each other in all positions which they can assume, substantially as described.

19. In a wheel the combination with the rigid inner structure a, of a rim b, bolt c, provided with spirally-grooved lug or block c', the feet e provided with spirally-grooved lugs or blocks e', the spring d adapted to engage the lugs or blocks c and e', the shoe f and the link g, substantially as described.

20. In a wheel the combination with the in- IOO IIO

t y Y 36485395 ner rigid structure @,of therm b', bolt c. pro' described.V

vided-'With the'spirallygrooved 1u g, or block, c,-the feet e "provided withr spirally-grooifed lugs or blocks e', the spring d `adapted to en-^ gage the lugs or blocksc' and e,'the shoe f and the link g, the `stop f2, substantially as 21. Y In a wheel the ombinatiowithihin- -ner rigid structure a, of a rim b, bolt c, provided with threaded lug, or block c', thejfeet eprovided with threaded lugs, or blocked, the springd adapted to engage the"threa1ded lugs, or blocks c' and e', the shoe fand thelink g, the stop f2, and the teeth 'esu'pon the foot en-v gaged with the teeth f3 on the shoefwlierelby abearing along one line is aorded between the-'shoefand foot, substantially as described. F22; "Ina wheel the combination of1 an'o'nter iiexible tread comprising a plurality of fleXibly=connected shoes, of 'an innerfstructure, springs interposed betweensaid tread and said inner structure, spring-feet attached to the outer extremities of said springs and bearing uponY said shoes, and means forpri-veiitlV ingsaid shoes becoming detached fromisaid springhfeet comprising suitable lips formed other, thesaid connections being adaptedto allow free flexure in' all' directionsandalso to vpermit a torsional flexibility which permits anyl two adjaoent shoes-` so^conncted` to occupy positions in 'different planes, rthesaid connections forming'together with the shoes an endless chain Vor belt of constantlen'gth, an inner structure, and a-plu'rality of springs interposed between 'said'shoes and said inner structure. Y l Y Inwitnfess whereofI hereunto subscribemy name th`is30th da'yfof August, A; D."1S99. A eno-Ren.. K. DAVOL.

Vi'tneSses: A CHARLES A."BROWN,

CHARLESA E. HUBERT. 

